Maxine Lacey

Verified Professional task_alt Verified Professional
Verified Professional

Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.

PGCert(CBT) , Prof.Dip.)Dip(Open) MBACP, BACP registered
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV5
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

**SPECIALISM in working with both narcissistic and sociopathic abuse.**

My name is Maxine, I am a qualified Counsellor/Psychotherapist with over 10 years experience, offering a very relaxed, down to earth, grounded style of therapy. I understand that life can be challenging , and that the best of us can lose our way or sense of direction at times. My aim is to try and restore the balance in life and to help you free yourself from whatever problems are bothering you, or keeping you awake at night. I do not offer any alternative therapies, so no tree hugging or crystal stroking, but I do offer a very warm, open, genuine approach, relying at times upon both my own intuition, and my own life experience. I truly believe that emotional intelligence cannot always be learned, and believe that I have a natural ability to 'tune in' to people. I provide one to one therapy, both in my own home and via home visits to suit individual needs.

I have a beautiful pointer/weimaraner dog who is very loving and sensitive and often joins clients for the session.  Many people find this very comforting, however I do understand that not everyone likes dogs and she will only come in if the client is happy with this situation.

My approach is mainly humanistic, whilst integrating elements from other approaches, both psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural therapy. I like to think of myself as being a very open minded, non judgemental therapist. My aim is to convey genuine empathy and understanding, and work together with my client, with the absence of any barriers or prejudice, to find realistic solutions to their issues. I have also studied Psychology and am continuing to learn more, as I prefer the more logical approach to therapy. I can work with many emotional issues, such as depression, anxiety,panic attacks, self harm, anger management and others, and can offer support and understanding to many of the issues faced by ordinary people such as divorce, relationship problems, or bereavement.

I am able to provide evidence based strategies(cognitive behavioural therapy) for treatment of depression and anxiety(high intensity) as used in the NHS. I can work with both generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) again using evidence based CBT interventions.

I am able to provide counselling for teenagers, children and young people and have much experience in this area. I have worked in several secondary schools for over 4 years and I am able to work with children and teenagers (age 10 upwards). I have worked with all manner of problems such as low self esteem, bullying, anxiety issues, stress etc with very positive results. I have an easy, relaxed manner with children/young people and am able to help them feel at ease fairly quickly. I have also studied Child Development at degree level

I am able to work with people with relationship issues, we all have a romantic attachment style, some are healthy and some are not. Some people constantly have problems in relationships, and will continue to play out the same patterns in every romantic relationship, even so far as unknowingly choosing similar partners in a destructive manner. I am able to help people establish their attachment style, and work with the client to help change this to positive effect.

**I am also able to offer therapy and understanding to victims of emotionally abusive relationships, including sociopathic (anti social personality disorder) ASPD and narcissistic relationships/associations. I have studied both in much detail and fully understand and empathise with the dynamics of these destructive relationships. I have worked for over 12 years with people affected by these personality types, and am therefore fully conversant with the behaviours exhibited by these people. I am able to work with any resultant PTSD symptoms or CPTSD . I understand how a relationship or association with such a person can leave you both physically and mentally traumatised.** 

Although a certain amount of stress and anxiety can be harmless, and even productive to an extent, as they can keep us alert and focused, excessive stress and constant states of anxiety are harmful to us. The body releases stress hormones into the bloodstream which cannot easily be depleted and can lead to long term damage. Untreated long term depression also keeps the bodies stress system in action, and has even been proven to inhibit growth of new brain cells, to summarize, long term anxiety and depression are really not good for our health. Counselling is one of the ways that emotional and anxiety disorders can be combated, used alone or alongside other treatments such as prescription drugs. Some believe that drugs and counselling/psychotherapy are at opposite ends of the spectrum, whereas they may be used alongside each other in a harmonious manner, if desired. Other treatment, such as standardised low intensity programs of CBT are widely used, and although effective for some, do not always achieve long term results due to their 'one size fits all' nature and due to the absence of one to one communication and therapeutic relationship with the client. People are diverse and are impossible to categorize or to use a standard approach which will suit everyone. One to one therapy provides opportunity for the therapist to ascertain a clients individual needs, and unique way of being in the world, and work with them to form a productive therapeutic alliance which tailors to their individual needs.

Training, qualifications & experience

PGcert (CBT) ; Newcastle University/Northumberland NHS] high intensity interventions for depression, anxiety disorders (level 7).

Dip(HE) Open (level 5) Open University, Psychology modules as below;

Discovering Psychology
Counselling Exploring Fear and Sadness
Mental Health; Science of the Mind
Exploring Psychology
Child Development
Social Psychology
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (AQA)level 4

I have 10+ years experience in practice working with adults and children. I have worked with children and adolescents in a local secondary school, dealing with all manner of emotional problems, I have also worked for a local bereavement charity, providing therapy which incorporates many other, interrelated emotional problems. I have also completed short term work for insurance providers, using a CBT model. I have so far, received very positive feedback in all areas, and in the majority of cases, have helped facilitate noted positive change. I am continually researching and exploring many other topics, and am always keen to expand my knowledge.

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).

Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.

Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.

All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.

Accredited register membership

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Post traumatic stress disorder (CBT)
Panic disorder (CBT)
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (CBT)
Victims of anti social personality disorder (sociopath)
Victims of narcissistic personality disorder

Photos & videos

Fees

£40.00 per session
Free initial telephone session

Concessions offered for

  • check_circle Low income
  • check_circle Students
  • check_circle Unemployed

Health Insurance/EAP

  • check_circle BUPA
  • check_circle Axa Health
  • check_circle Health Assured
  • check_circle Aviva
  • check_circle Saga
  • check_circle Vitality
  • check_circle WPA

Additional information

I charge £40 per hourly session, or can offer 6 sessions for £210 if paid in advance

Limited concessions available for students or clients on low income.

If you are unsure about therapy or whether I will be the right counsellor for you, I can have either an arranged informal chat by telephone, or I can arrange an informal 'meet and greet' session for free before you make your decision.

Please feel free to e-mail me with your enquiry, or contact me on either of my numbers, I will always get back to you if you leave a message.

Further information

Testimonials

Jayne, aged 46 from Wolverhampton said " I felt as though I was walking through life carrying so many bags, now, through counselling, I finally feel as though I can put the bags down and move forward"

Samantha, aged 38 from Kingswinford said " I feel as though I can now make footsteps in the sand, and that the sand is no longer slipping away beneath my feet as I walk"

John, aged 28 from Kinver "I woke up one day and felt as though I was a stranger in my own head, I realized I needed help to help me overcome my depression, I feel I have achieved that through counselling"

Tina, aged 53 from Telford " I now realise that my father was a sociopath, he tormented my family for years and blamed everyone but himself, he tried to ruin my life. For years, I too blamed myself but now I can see the situation clearly, counselling has helped me to achieve this. I can't change the past, but I have reached a state of acceptance and can now move on and enjoy my life free of this guilt."

Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV5

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Children (0-12)
Young people (13-17)
Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Couples
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Online platforms

Microsoft Teams
Zoom
Maxine Lacey
Maxine Lacey